FAT CTLR DESCRIBED INCIDENT WHEN ACFT DEPARTED OVER SWEEPER ON THE RWY CITING LACK OF LIGHTING ON THE SWEEPER AS A CAUSAL FACTOR.

Narrative

AIR NATIONAL GUARD SHARES THE ARPT -- FAT. THEY SWEEP THE RWY WITH NORMAL SIZED STREET SWEEPER. IT ONLY HAS 1 SMALL YELLOW LIGHT ON IT (ROOF -- CENTER). EVERY NIGHT THE SWEEPER WILL BE ON RWY FOR 1-2 HRS. CTLR HAD RPTED DEAL WITH SWEEPER AND DEPARTING C172. CTLR SCANNED RWY (POORLY) AND DID NOT SEE SWEEPER ON CLR NIGHT. PLT PULLED ONTO RWY AND DID NOT SEE SWEEPER (WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AND SMALL BLINKING YELLOW LIGHT ON ROOF OF SWEEPER). PLT TOOK OFF AND FLEW OVER SWEEPER ON RWY. CTLRS ALWAYS HAVE A HARD TIME SPOTTING THE SWEEPER AT FAT WITH OUR LARGE MOVEMENT AREA. MGMNT AND THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD HAVE SAID THE SWEEPER'S 1 SMALL FLASHING LIGHT IS ENOUGH. I FEEL IT WOULD BE MUCH SAFER IF WE LIT THE SWEEPER UP. WITH TODAY'S LIGHTS; IT SHOULD BE EASY TO PUT BETTER LIGHT BARS ON SWEEPER; NOT JUST A SINGLE SMALL FLASHING BEACON. REMEMBER; ON A CLR NIGHT; BOTH CTLR AND PLT COULD NOT SEE SWEEPER. FAT IS KNOWN FOR ITS HAZE AND FOG. BESIDES ALWAYS BEING ON RWY AT NIGHT; SWEEPER IS ALWAYS DOING TAXI RTES (TXWYS) THAT THE ANG FIGHTERS USE DURING DAY. WE NEED TO LIGHT IT UP!